Notre Dame at North Carolina State: Preview, what to know and how to watch
A meeting with North Carolina State started Notre Dame’s five-game, 11-day stretch. A trip to Raleigh for the rematch ends it.
The Irish head to PNC Arena Saturday (3 p.m. ET, ACC Network) looking for their second win over North Carolina State this season. The first was a 73-65 home triumph on Jan. 26, one of many wins in recent weeks that ended losing streaks overdue to be snapped.
Not since 2018 had Notre Dame (15-7, 8-3 ACC) beaten the Wolfpack. The Irish followed that up with their first win over Virginia since 2017 on Jan. 29. They beat Louisville for the first time since 2017 on Jan. 22, which marked their first defeat of the Cardinals away from home since 2015.
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Saturday offers another similar opportunity – Notre Dame hasn’t won in the Wolfpack’s home arena since 2017. The dual college basketball and NHL venue has been unkind to the Irish in their last two visits. This year, though, they’ve proven to be a tough road opponent. Following Wednesday’s 68-64 win over then-ACC leader Miami, they’re 5-1 in their last six games away from Purcell Pavilion.
On paper, North Carolina State (10-13, 3-9) provides a nice path for Notre Dame to notch its fourth straight road win. The Wolfpack have dropped three consecutive games and allowed 189 combined points in losses to North Carolina and Syracuse. They rate as the ACC’s worst defensive team in conference play, per KenPom.
At the same time, they’re capable of putting a scare in anyone. They have three players averaging at least 14.4 points per game in guard Dereon Seabron, guard Terquavion Smith and forward Jericole Hellems. Each has popped off for at least one 30-point game this year. Seabron (18.2 points per game) was Notre Dame’s primary adversary in the first meeting, scoring 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting. The other two combined for 18 points.
North Carolina State might not be the better team in most of its matchups these days, but it has the firepower to be that for a day. Notre Dame, though, has played some of its most inspired defense of late. It has already quelled the Wolfpack once. The Irish held Miami’s league-best offense to 64 points and 1.03 points per possession – two days after Duke mustered just .86 points per possession against them.
Notre Dame (15-7, 8-3) at North Carolina State (10-13, 3-9)
When: Saturday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
TV: ACC Network
Radio: Notre Dame basketball radio network
Line: North Carolina State -1
KenPom prediction: Notre Dame 73, North Carolina State 72
Series history: Notre Dame leads 9-8
Last meeting: Notre Dame won 73-65 on Jan. 26, 2022
Leading scorers:
• Notre Dame: guard Dane Goodwin (14.6 ppg), guard Blake Wesley (14.1 ppg)
• North Carolina State: guard Dereon Seabron (18.2 ppg), guard Terquavion Smith (15.7 ppg)
Other notes:
• Wesley has seemingly smacked straight into the freshman wall. Since his 22-point outing at Louisville, he is shooting 10-of-55 from the field (18.2 percent). He has 11 total points in the last two games and is 0-of-10 on threes in that stretch. He has, though, dished out 19 assists in the last four games against five turnovers.
• Forward Nate Laszewski put an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double on North Carolina State in the first game. He has eight combined points on 10 shots in the Irish’s last two outings. Even with that lull, he’s still shooting 52.8 percent on three-pointers in ACC play.
• North Carolina State has allowed 80 or more points in eight of its last 13 games.
